Letters to the editor: Racism is a two-way street

Aerial shot of Rotorua. Photo / File

We hear the words "racism" and ''systemic racism" bandied about constantly.

The picture is painted of whites being racist. Can I suggest that it's a two-way street?

When hanging decorations outside the premises where I volunteer, I asked a Māori man sitting on a seat outside if he would please hang them for me so that I wouldn't need to climb on to a chair on an uneven footpath.

His response: "Why should I, you white b****".

Totally unacceptable. Had the boot been on the other foot, I'd have happily obliged.

Reminded of the time when I copped a racial slur for refusing to give money to a beggar wandering round in the mall carpark.

White people rarely complain of racial slurs because there is the fear that in doing so it automatically brands them as racist, that such comments are deserved because, after all, they are white.

Paddi Hodgkiss
Rotorua

Forgiveness

Tragedy, in its various forms, is part of the human condition and arrives on all of our doorsteps eventually.

Whether it's the result of criminal activity, accidental or otherwise, we all have mechanisms that govern our responses and help us to move on, or at least should do so.

It's right to maintain court standards of respect by the censoring, as necessary, of victim impact statements that could include expletives or unhelpful dialogue.

How we implement that should reflect contemporary, acceptable standards of behaviour within the court systems.

I don't often see forgiveness as the driving force in that healing process and yet it is the most powerful of all remedies when applied liberally and in all directions.

It's the process that God uses to reconcile man to Himself and has worked effectively for millennia.

John Williams
Ngongotāhā

God bless them

Tilly Hirst, nee Vercoe, was an outstanding netball Silver Fern (Obituary, June 9). Tilly and some of her Vercoe sisters played in the successful Rotorua team.

Billy Hill, of no mean ability, played alongside her on defence. Coral Palmer was the outstanding centre.

Also in the New Zealand team was goal shooter Mirth Solomon, of Rotorua, when they won the National title on many consecutive years.

Taini Jamison introduced the running two step movement that surprised other national sides. Significantly when they won the world title where Taini was the coach.

Now there is a Taini Jamison Trophy whenever England and New Zealand meet. I later umpired netball in Rotorua.

Peter Hirst, Tilly's husband, played basketball with the Rotorua Police Team and was dynamic driving through the keyhole to the basket and responsible for denying my team from the grade championship, police won the championship.

Tilly and Peter later taught English in China for two years.

Sad to see them both laid to rest at Kearoa Marae Horohoro but together.

God bless them both.

Alan Lord
Rotorua

Don't need landlords

So, landlords are panicking - best news yet (News, June 21)

We do not need landlords. Only a properly controlled agency should handle rentals.
Private landlords should have gone out with the 1800s.

Rents must be controlled so that people are able to afford them.

Once all the private landlords have gone, prices will tumble and, once again, families will be able to buy a house - or rent at a fair price.

Jim Adams
Rotorua

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